*

A NATURAL PROGRESSION

*
*By GILDA LILY*

Rated PG-13, mainly for an 'F' word I don't like.
I don't own 'em, Alliance does, more's the pity.
(c) May 30, 1998 The *real* Memorial Day. Happy Birthday, Sis!
* * * * * *

"What a waste."

Elaine looked up at the voice at her shoulder and saw the speaker:
Callie Springer, a new civilian aide. Callie was petite and had perfect
porcelain skin, golden hair and big, blue eyes. It was little wonder
that nearly every man in the 27th Precinct always gave her more than a
cursory glance.

"What's a waste?"

Callie waved her hand toward Fraser, who was in animated
conversation with Ray about their latest case. "That gorgeous Mountie
doin' it with that troll Vecchio. God, why don't they go somewhere else
and do it? Like in that famous closet of theirs? Remind me never to go
in *there* for supplies."

Elaine's brown eyes widened as she slowly counted to ten. The girl
was new, after all. Don't otterize her yet.

"You have a problem with Fraser and Ray being together?"

"Hell, sure, who wouldn't? Homosexuals are...are...unnatural,
and..."

"...perverted, and disgusting? Isn't that the usual litany?" Ray
escorted Fraser to his customary chair in front of his desk, a hand
resting lightly on one serge-clad shoulder.

Callie scowled. "Don't tell me you *approve* of that kind of filth,
Besbriss?"

Elaine sighed. How many times...? "Listen, Springer, being gay
isn't bad or sick or anything like that. Being gay is just being
different in one's sexual orientation. That's all."

"You mean to tell me that it doesn't make you wanna lose your lunch
if you see two men kissing?"

"Why should it? It's really rather beautiful." Ray had gotten
himself and his Mountie a cup of coffee and now handed Fraser his mug,
their fingers lightly brushing.

"What!" Callie sounded sick.

"C'mon, Springer, two men open enough to show affection for each
other, instead of relating to each other with all this macho garbage?
Really *talking* to one another instead of just yakking about sports and
cars and women's body parts?"

"I suppose they wouldn't be interested in the last," Callie
sneered.

"Oh, I don't know. Fraser and Ray are in a committed relationship,
but they've loved women before." Elaine thought of Victoria and
shuddered. Ray was worlds above that bitch as the better choice for
Fraser. Victoria would have eaten away at Fraser's soul. Ray fed it.

Callie was incredulous. "Come on, Besbriss, tell me the truth.
Don't you find your stomach squirming when you watch two fags hold hands
or kiss or touch each other like a man and woman should?"

Elaine smiled. "No. I told you, it's beautiful. Listen, Springer,
you're new here, so I'll cut you some slack. Fraser and Ray have been
the most important persons in each other's lives practically since the
day they met. They spent almost all of their off-duty time together,
and a lot of on-duty time, too. Ray would let Fraser talk him into
these harebrained schemes and chauffeur him around, and Fraser would be
patient with Ray's short temper and hardboiled act. But he knew. And
both put up with the other, and ate lunches and dinners together, and
Fraser was invited to the Vecchio home at least once a week for Rosa
Vecchio's fine dinners, and he'd run like a scared rabbit when Ray's
sister Francesca zeroed in on him. And he and Ray saved each other's
lives, and Ray even sacrificed the Riv for him, and it was just a
natural progression of their friendship to become lovers."

"Natural!" Callie's tone indicated anything but.

"They committed to each other, and it was a lovely wedding
ceremony."

"God, that's *sick*! Faggots wanting to get *married*, for
godsakes! That is the ultimate perversion, Besbriss, and we won't even
*talk* about what they do in bed!"

Fraser's eyes were glowing as he looked at Ray, sipping his coffee
and laughing at something Ray said.

"What's so terrible about them wanting to get married? Instead of
sleeping around, they chose to commit themselves to one person. Isn't
that what all the fundies and other religious types say heterosexuals
should do?"

"Yeah, but marriage between a man and a woman are for children.
That's the reason for marriage."

"Then infertile het couples and those who choose to remain
childless aren't legitimate?"

Callie scowled again. "You're twisting things around to suit your
opinions."

"I'm just stating what I see. If you argue that gays and lesbians
can't be allowed to marry because they can't procreate, then it follows
that the het couples I mentioned are not legitimate, either."

Callie slammed down her clipboard. "You're impossible!"

Elaine reached out and put a hand on Callie's arm. "Listen, just
get rid of your prejudices and open your heart. Or at the very least,
leave Fraser and Ray alone. They've done nothing to you."

Ray dipped his head shyly as he blushed at something that Fraser
had just said. Elaine thought that was the sweetest thing she'd ever
seen.

"They *exist*."

Callie stomped off, and Elaine sighed. Why did she even bother?

Fraser stood up and he and Ray said their goodbyes, though it would
only be until after work tonight. Then Ray would go to the Consulate
and pick his Benny up, and they would go back to Fraser's apartment or
go out and enjoy dinner, or maybe go over to the Vecchios'.

Yes, life was good.

"Goodbye, Elaine."

"Goodbye, Fraser."

Ray watched his Mountie go, Dief trailing along behind with tail
wagging. He drifted over to Elaine's desk and said, "How's it goin',
Elaine?"

"Oh, fine, Ray. Just fine."

"Good." Ray's green eyes glowed. He looked beautiful when he was
in love. He returned to his desk and started reading a file.

Callie came back into the squadroom and was ready to sail past
Elaine's desk when the brunette said, "By the way, he's not a troll."

"What?"

"Ray. He's not a troll."

Callie sneered. "Get some glasses, Besbriss."

As Callie walked away, Elaine murmured, "Oh, I have some, Springer.
They're red-and-white and the wearer sees a lean, elegant Italian with
eyes of emerald, and the one wearing red-white-and-blue glasses sees a
delicious piece of Canadian pastry with the face of an angel and eyes of
sapphire."

Satisfied, Elaine returned to work while humming a CARPENTERS
tune.*

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